Daily monitoring of COVID-19 infections (NIJZ CNB)

In accordance with the SARS-CoV-2 surveillance methodology, laboratory confirmed cases are covered with the date of the previous day. The number of reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection underestimates the number of real infections. Changing the number depends not only on changing the number of new infections, but also on changing testing recommendations and testing practices. Due to additional entries and verifications of data in the Infectious Diseases Record under the Health Care Databases Act (NIJZ 48 database), the data may be entered subsequently. As data are in a continuous process of collection and updating, the daily dynamics of data are therefore even more pronounced. From 1.2.2022 onwards, the time period is changed or the interval between two positive findings for SARS-CoV-2 infection is reduced from ≥ 90 to ≥ 45 days as a condition for re-recovery of the result in the NIJZ 48 database (re-infections). Since the start of surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 infections, the daily number of confirmed cases includes cases confirmed by PCR, and between 21.12.2020 and 12.2.2021 and 1.2.2022, the daily number of confirmed cases includes cases confirmed by PCR or HAGT. The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) monitors data on the number of deaths through the system of official declaration of death from infectious disease. The daily number of deaths with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection is one of the key indicators in the epidemiological surveillance of the COVID-19 epidemic. The official report of death under the Infectious Diseases Act is based on the clinical judgement of a doctor or coroner that an individual has died from COVID-19. In addition, the NIJZ monitors data on causes of death through the data source Medical Report on the deceased person. In order to keep up-to-date monitoring and reporting of deceased persons with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, due to limitations such as incomplete data reporting, time lag in obtaining data, additional follow-up enquiries about the deceased, we have established an adapted method of monitoring the number of deaths. DEFINITIONS A confirmed case of SARS-COV-2 infection for the purpose of epidemiological surveillance of the number of confirmed persons with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection is: Person with SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid present in a clinical specimen. OR A person who has a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen in a clinical specimen. A deceased person with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection for the purpose of epidemiological surveillance of the number of deceased persons with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection is: death of a person with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection occurring within 28 days after the date of positive SARS-CoV-2 testing OR death of a person who tested for SARS-CoV-2 positive post-mortem (after death) AND the date of death is recorded in the CRPP.* The last seven days is a period of greater uncertainty about the data of the deceased. The data source of the Infectious Diseases Record under the Health Care Databases Act (ZZPPZ) (Report of Disease-Deaths for Infectious Diseases) has been used for the last seven days, provided that the deceased is not recorded in the Central Patient Data Register (CRPP).按照严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）的监测方法学要求，实验室确诊病例的统计覆盖前一日的相关数据。新冠病毒感染的报告病例数低于实际感染人数，其变动不仅取决于新增感染人数的变化，还受检测方案调整及检测实操变动的影响。根据《医疗数据库法案》下的《传染病记录》（NIJZ 48数据库）的补充录入与核验流程，相关数据可能会后续补录。由于数据处于持续收集与更新的动态过程中，因此每日数据的波动特征会更为显著。自2022年2月1日起，NIJZ 48数据库中新冠病毒再次感染的判定条件调整：两次新冠病毒感染阳性检测结果的间隔时长从不低于90天缩短至不低于45天。自新冠病毒感染监测工作启动以来，每日确诊病例数均包含经聚合酶链式反应（PCR）确诊的病例；在2020年12月21日至2021年2月12日以及2022年2月1日期间，每日确诊病例数还包含经PCR或HAGT确诊的病例。 国家公共卫生研究所（National Institute of Public Health, NIJZ）通过传染病死亡官方申报系统开展死亡数据监测工作。每日确诊新冠病毒感染的死亡病例数，是新冠肺炎（COVID-19）疫情流行病学监测的核心指标之一。根据《传染病法案》出具的死亡官方报告，需以医师或验尸官的临床判断为依据，确认个体死于新冠肺炎。此外，NIJZ还通过《死者医疗报告》数据源开展死因数据监测。鉴于存在数据申报不全、数据获取存在时滞、需对死者开展后续跟进核查等限制，为实现对确诊新冠病毒感染死亡病例的实时监测与报告，我们建立了适配的死亡人数监测方法。 定义 用于新冠病毒感染确诊病例数流行病学监测的确诊病例定义如下： 1. 临床标本中检测出新冠病毒核酸的个体； 2. 临床标本中新冠病毒抗原检测结果呈阳性的个体。 用于确诊新冠病毒感染死亡病例数流行病学监测的死亡病例定义如下： 满足以下任一条件的死亡个体： 1. 新冠病毒检测结果呈阳性后的28天内发生死亡；或 2. 死后（遗体检测）新冠病毒检测结果呈阳性，且死亡日期已记录于中央患者数据登记册（Central Patient Data Register, CRPP）。* 近七日的死者相关数据存在较高不确定性。若死者未被记录于中央患者数据登记册（CRPP），则近七日的死亡数据将采用《医疗数据库法案》（ZZPPZ）下的《传染病记录》数据源（即《传染病死亡病例报告》）。